Syria censures EU plan to buy oil from militants

Syria has condemned the recent decision by the European Union to ease oil sanctions imposed on the Arab state in order to assist foreign-backed militants fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

"Neither the EU nor any other party has the right to take any measures that would affect the state's sovereign rights over [its] national resources," the Syrian Foreign Ministry added.

The EU countries "have gone even beyond that to allow the possibility of investing these resources in favor of one group that claims to be an opposition and represent the Syrian people while it actually represents no one [but] its masters and their interests that are connected to foreign sides," the letter noted.

"Syria demands that the UN Security Council take necessary measures to prevent the implementation of this illegitimate decision that [runs contrary to] the rules of international law and the UN Charter," the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated.

The letter also said that "Syria will [exercise] its natural right to take the necessary measures to maintain its sovereignty over its natural resources in the face of the attempts [at] piracy and looting."

On Monday, the EU Council eased certain sanctions, including the oil embargo, which had been imposed on Syria. It said the move was designed to help and support the Syrian opposition.

The Syria crisis began in mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence, and several international human rights organizations say the foreign-sponsored militants have committed war crimes.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

The Syrian government says the West and its regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants.

In an interview recently broadcast on Turkish television, President Assad stated that if the militant groups take power in Syria, they could destabilize the entire Middle East for decades.

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In a letter sent to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the EUâ€™s move to allow the importation of Syrian oil and its derivatives and investment in the Syrian oil industry through exclusive transactions with the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) violates the principle of non-interference in the countryâ€™s domestic affairs.

The letter called the EU decision "an unprecedented step" and said the EU was involved in a "political and economic campaign" targeting the country's economy.

"Neither the EU nor any other party has the right to take any measures that would affect the state's sovereign rights over [its] national resources," the Syrian Foreign Ministry added.

The EU countries "have gone even beyond that to allow the possibility of investing these resources in favor of one group that claims to be an opposition and represent the Syrian people while it actually represents no one [but] its masters and their interests that are connected to foreign sides," the letter noted.

"Syria demands that the UN Security Council take necessary measures to prevent the implementation of this illegitimate decision that [runs contrary to] the rules of international law and the UN Charter," the Syrian Foreign Ministry stated.

The letter also said that "Syria will [exercise] its natural right to take the necessary measures to maintain its sovereignty over its natural resources in the face of the attempts [at] piracy and looting."

On Monday, the EU Council eased certain sanctions, including the oil embargo, which had been imposed on Syria. It said the move was designed to help and support the Syrian opposition.

The Syria crisis began in mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence, and several international human rights organizations say the foreign-sponsored militants have committed war crimes.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

The Syrian government says the West and its regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants.

In an interview recently broadcast on Turkish television, President Assad stated that if the militant groups take power in Syria, they could destabilize the entire Middle East for decades.